Yesterday I decided to just try a leave-in as my styler, namely GVP CB. I used a dime-sized amount, coated my hair, scrunched a little, then let it air dry. I didn't have to go anywhere, so I was okay with however it turned out. It dried into soft, bouncy waves (I'm a 2a/b/c depending on which piece of hair you are looking at). That was the first sign that my hair liked it.

The second sign was that I woke up this morning without having my hair standing up on my head (it's too short to pineapple correctly). It looked just like it did when I went to bed. I didn't even have to rewet or anything.

Thirdly, it's raining here, so the humidity is up this morning, and while I have more volume since I have no gel whatsoever, it's tolerable. It looks and feels nice.

Has anyone had success with just a leave-in only regimen all year long? Thinking of how simple this could make my life and how much my wallet would love it if this could work all year. It's really amazing. I haven't not used gel in so long, I just thought it was necessary. Anyone else had success?

Ha ha! This cracked me up! If only we were all that lucky! I find that a LI makes my waves sag a little, so I need gel to perk it back up again. This is why this routine would probably never work for me. But, it would be fun to dream about it....

Naturally brunette but dyed hair, dark brown ( nearly black ) in November 2010.Trying to grow to WL but only past SL atm. Currently not CO washing and using Pantenes shampoo. Styling: Schwarzkopf ultimate repair serum with total ends repair. Also use Aussies 3 miracle worker from time to time. 3B,bouncy ringlets,medium thickness,strands are neither fine nor coarse,dry,low elasticity ( when wet, but high elasticity when dry ) and proud to be a curly!

Yep. I only use conditioner in my hair year round. I've been doing that for about two years. I love the Kenra as a leave-in/styler. I have used the conditioning balm, but it was not moisturizing enough for me to leave in. I'm using it now as a rinse out. I do scrunch in a bit of coconut oil after my hair dries.

i don't always use only conditioner leave in as a styler, but i frequently do, and this winter have almost exclusively done so, using ss dd as my leave in. in extremely low dewpoints, i do use a sealant on top when i sotc.
if you think about it, curly hair needs lots of moisture, and when it has the right amount, it curls pretty much to it's potential.

i find that my hair is softer, much less likely to frizz for some strange reason.

i do use stylers from time to time, one of which i use as a styler is beauticurls leave in conditioner! that really pumps up my curls.

Thanks for the tip CurryCurls. I'm glad it's working for you too. I'm going to try Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover as a leave-in/styler next. My ends are a bit dry, so I might need to check into the coconut oil and/or Kenra. I hope it continues like this. I think of all the money down the drain and in my cabinet...

RBB, that's a good point. I think maybe my hair is happy that it's getting a dose of moisture plus getting to "breathe." I didn't realize how much volume my thin hair could achieve, but I think it was smothered under gel. I like the voluminous, soft look that I'm getting with the leave-in.

I'm modCG. I use a low-poo and ACV because I have extremely hard water and found that it built up on my hair with just co-washing. I'm hoping this new finding will keep working. Now as for sealants, is that like the coconut oil, or do you use something else?

I was able to do conditioner only styling when my hair was longer all year long. I had to spritz in the morning for second day hair though. However, when I chopped it to chin length I had to use gel if I wanted any kind of curl.

Now I'm growing it out and I want to try conditioner only styling again. But I have to use a very light leave-in or else it's too heavy for my thin wavy hair.

I find that without gel, my curlier hair gets curlier and my straighter hair gets straighter and sticks right out underneath...Gel is sort of a moderator, weighing down the curlier parts and propping up the straighter parts so it looks a lot more consistent than it really is. Also lot of times without product it will look pretty good while it's drying but once it finally gets all the way dry it falls apart.

Really I've used styling goop in my hair pretty much my whole life, I think I have the kind of hair that works better with a bunch of stuff in it.

Oh, I really hope it works for you. I also buy the liter size. I just bought my second one. The first one lasted forever. It smells really good. I use at least two tablespoons, but you'll have to experiment with how much is good for you.

RBB, that's a good point. I think maybe my hair is happy that it's getting a dose of moisture plus getting to "breathe." I didn't realize how much volume my thin hair could achieve, but I think it was smothered under gel. I like the voluminous, soft look that I'm getting with the leave-in.

I'm modCG. I use a low-poo and ACV because I have extremely hard water and found that it built up on my hair with just co-washing. I'm hoping this new finding will keep working. Now as for sealants, is that like the coconut oil, or do you use something else?

Originally Posted by curlye

i only use a sealant if i absolutely have to, like dew points under 10, and i guess extremely high ones. i've been using jane carter nourish & shine. i think you can also use coconut oil. i did use spiral solutions emolient butters last year, but then she changed the fragrance and i just could not tolerate it. however, any day now shantelle is coming out with a whole new fragrance line -- essential oils -- and i am thinking about buy the emolient again as i liked the way it worked on my hair.

Thanks for the product recommendations. If I can get by with the condish and sealant (part of the year), that would be just fine with me. I could clean up my product stash. It's way after noon here and my hair still looks as good as it did yesterday. Did nothing to it since sleeping on it (except rub some GVP CB in the ends). I can't wait to try the Kenra. Have been reading lots of good things about that.

Timely for me. Last night I did a PT with Kpak and then just used olive oil with a little SSDD. My hair is incredibly soft today and the curls are holding their own - even though I keep playing with my curls (cause they're so soft!). And I got the best root curl I've had since winter hit. The olive oil left it a little greasy looking so will try it tomorrow with just conditioner.

54, mix of 3a, 2b,c, with the occasional straight strand thrown in to keep things interesting. Low porosity. Very fine!

Forgot to say that I cleanse with herbal washes and do not follow with any conditioner. I don't need it. I do ACV rinses 1-2 times a week and PT's every two weeks followed by KCKT. Previous conditioner was just too heavy.

I tried conditioner-only styling this morning for the first time in almost a year. Yay! It turned out great! I diluted some KCKT and put two drops of honey for a little bit of shine and a little hold (windy today). I let it air dry.

I find that without gel, my curlier hair gets curlier and my straighter hair gets straighter and sticks right out underneath...Gel is sort of a moderator, weighing down the curlier parts and propping up the straighter parts so it looks a lot more consistent than it really is. Also lot of times without product it will look pretty good while it's drying but once it finally gets all the way dry it falls apart.

Really I've used styling goop in my hair pretty much my whole life, I think I have the kind of hair that works better with a bunch of stuff in it.

Originally Posted by Robin-in-FL

yeah I attribute that to our coarse-ish texture that doesn't bend easily & needs product to control it. Mine will do the same, looks pretty good while it's drying but once it dries it poofs out and loses definition. My DD's hair is fine so we use conditioner only as a styler for her in colder months and her hair does really well.

i don't always use only conditioner leave in as a styler, but i frequently do, and this winter have almost exclusively done so, using ss dd as my leave in. in extremely low dewpoints, i do use a sealant on top when i sotc.
if you think about it, curly hair needs lots of moisture, and when it has the right amount, it curls pretty much to it's potential.

i find that my hair is softer, much less likely to frizz for some strange reason.

i do use stylers from time to time, one of which i use as a styler is beauticurls leave in conditioner! that really pumps up my curls.

Originally Posted by rbb

When you use the ss dd as a leave in do you use anything on top....is this when you use a sealant (what do you use as a sealant)?